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COPY
March 23rd,1928.
Dr. John Brown Jr.,
347 Madison Ave.,
New York City.
My dear John,
(Personal)
I am writing at this time in order to place
before you the personal problem which I may be facing
within the next twelve months.
You are undoubtedly aware of the severe shake-
up in the foreign field which is being caused by the en-
forded reductions in budget; no doubt your own work is
being affected as well. Our National council staff in
South America has already suffered the loss of six men
within the past two years, and the end of forced withdrawals is not yet in sighto So far our Continental staff
has not lost any men; but it now seems inevitable that
we shall also be forced to undergo a reduction process.
This, in spite of the fact that with our local fields
dangerously weakened by the withdrawal of long experienced
men who are being replaced by young and untried nationals,
who more than ever will need the counsel and stimulus
which a headquarters staff of field experts can give. Our
Continental group is facing the issue frankly, and although
we are convinced that none of our specialist should be
withdrawn at this critical time, we can see no other way
to reduce our budget than by that rather strenuous measure.
I have come to the concJ-usion that I shall probably be one of the. first to go; and this in spite of the
fact that if things were to continue on normally, I could
probably render my greatest se vice during the next few
years, because of the' sixteen years of accumulated experience. However, my withdrawal would not leave headquarters
without a specialist in physical education; Summers will
be here in the School, for an indefinite period, and the
Training Plan will be the last phase of our work to be sacrificed.
I want to say at this time that come what may,
Summe s must be kept on the job for which he is so eminently
well qualified for the next five or ten years at least.
The fast growing group of fcoung physical directors on this

Jess Townsend Hopkins (March 31, 1887—?) was born in Iowa and graduated from the International YMCA Training School, now known as Springfield College, in 1910. While there, he served as vice president of his class. After graduation, he worked as physical director of the Gorgona YMCA in Panama. In the summer of 1915, he was hired by the International Committee for South America to work on playground extension. After this work, Hopkins was hired as the first physical director of the Montevideo YMCA (founded in 1909) and as director of physical education for the Uruguayan government. In this position, he built two new playgrounds. Twelve thousand spectators attended the inauguration of the last playground, where a variety of sports were demonstrated by athletic clubs. During this event, baseball was demonstrated for the very first time in Uruguay. The YMCA also introduced basketball, volleyball and competitive swimming to the country. In 1918, he returned to Springfield College for his master’s degree in physical education. In 1920, Hopkins introduced social development and extension programs, such as the work with "canillitas" (people who sell newspapers on the streets). Hopkins is also credited with raising the standards and expectations for gyms and physical education at the Uruguay YMCA. Before his arrival, gyms were poorly ventilated with only heavy weightlifting equipment. Hopkins transformed them into arenas for popular classes, exercise routines, and YMCA drills. He introduced hot and cold baths, embraced the “Play Fair” philosophy, and brought physical training and health education into school curriculum. In 1928, Hopkins left Uruguay and returned to the United States.

Text and images are owned, held, or licensed by Springfield College and are available for personal, non-commercial, and educational use, provided that ownership is properly cited. A credit line is required and should read: Courtesy of Springfield College, Babson Library, Archives and Special Collections. Any commercial use without written permission from Springfield College is strictly prohibited. Other individuals or entities other than, and in addition to, Springfield College may also own copyrights and other propriety rights. The publishing, exhibiting, or broadcasting party assumes all responsibility for clearing reproduction rights and for any infringement of United States copyright law.

COPY
March 23rd,1928.
Dr. John Brown Jr.,
347 Madison Ave.,
New York City.
My dear John,
(Personal)
I am writing at this time in order to place
before you the personal problem which I may be facing
within the next twelve months.
You are undoubtedly aware of the severe shake-
up in the foreign field which is being caused by the en-
forded reductions in budget; no doubt your own work is
being affected as well. Our National council staff in
South America has already suffered the loss of six men
within the past two years, and the end of forced withdrawals is not yet in sighto So far our Continental staff
has not lost any men; but it now seems inevitable that
we shall also be forced to undergo a reduction process.
This, in spite of the fact that with our local fields
dangerously weakened by the withdrawal of long experienced
men who are being replaced by young and untried nationals,
who more than ever will need the counsel and stimulus
which a headquarters staff of field experts can give. Our
Continental group is facing the issue frankly, and although
we are convinced that none of our specialist should be
withdrawn at this critical time, we can see no other way
to reduce our budget than by that rather strenuous measure.
I have come to the concJ-usion that I shall probably be one of the. first to go; and this in spite of the
fact that if things were to continue on normally, I could
probably render my greatest se vice during the next few
years, because of the' sixteen years of accumulated experience. However, my withdrawal would not leave headquarters
without a specialist in physical education; Summers will
be here in the School, for an indefinite period, and the
Training Plan will be the last phase of our work to be sacrificed.
I want to say at this time that come what may,
Summe s must be kept on the job for which he is so eminently
well qualified for the next five or ten years at least.
The fast growing group of fcoung physical directors on this

Text and images are owned, held, or licensed by Springfield College and are available for personal, non-commercial, and educational use, provided that ownership is properly cited. A credit line is required and should read: Courtesy of Springfield College, Babson Library, Archives and Special Collections. Any commercial use without written permission from Springfield College is strictly prohibited. Other individuals or entities other than, and in addition to, Springfield College may also own copyrights and other propriety rights. The publishing, exhibiting, or broadcasting party assumes all responsibility for clearing reproduction rights and for any infringement of United States copyright law.